Form for cast concrete step and platform units



Oct. 19, 1965 J. G. FRANCIS, JR 3,212,155

FORM FOR CAST CONCRETE STEP AND PLATFORM UNITS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 1, 1963 INVENTOR. JOHN G. FRANCIS JR.

BY W

FIG. 2

ATTORNEY Oct. 19, 1965 J. G. FRANCIS, JR 3,212,155

FORM FOR CAST CONCRETE STEP AND PLATFORM UNITS Filed July 1, 1963 E'Sheets-Sheet 2 us I20 I04 x04 F /ZO q Q 20 I M52 /7 /\OO 1 2 FIG. 3

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154 I34 42 5 92 $45M 5 94 I38 34 -42 34 49 5 \e 8 uv-mm 1 a INVENTOR ATTORNEY JOHN G FRANCIS JR.

Oct. 19, 1965 J. G. FRANCIS, JR 3,212,155

FORM FOR CAST CONCRETE STEP AND PLATFORM UNITS Filed July 1, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. JOHN G. FRANCIS JR.

giiiiit fmfl;1212 1 9 BY BQ MWN ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,212,155 FORM FOR CAST CONCRETE STEP AND PLATFORM UNiTS John G. Francis, Jr., 24687 Edgemont Ave, Southfield, Mich. Filed July 1, 1963, Ser. No. 291,918 4 Claims. (Cl. 25-118) This invention relates to a form for cast concrete steps and more particularly to a form assembly having hinged and connected side and front walls forming a frame in which a complete unitary concrete step and platform structure can be cast.

The invention involves conjoined pivotal side, front and rear wall plates with separable front risers so arranged that the concrete casting is entirely free of such walls when in condition for removal from the form, the casting resting upon the base plate of the form.

Prior art structures with which applicant is familiar have problems in the adherence of the casting to wall plates and form members that key into the casting, in the use of a large number of separable parts and components, in the casting of a step and platform unit in inverted position whereby hand finishing of the steps and platform cannot be done until the concrete has taken an initial set, and general inconvenience in using step forms occasioning relatively poor castings and higher costs.

The instant invention solves many of these problems by providing for positive conjoined pivoting movement of the form side, rear and front walls. Another object of the invention is the provision of side, rear and front wall plates that are hinged to a base frame whereby substantially identical step structures can be cast in the same form. A further object is provision for full removal of only the riser front plates, above the first riser, from the form, the remaining form structure being conjoined. Yet another object is the provision of a substantially unitary form for casting concrete steps and platform structures. A further object is the provision of means to modify the step form structure so that a casting having fewer than the full number of steps which the form can provide can also be fabricated by the form. Still another object of the invention is to provide a form whiclf is composed of relatively few parts, most of which are connected together, simple to operate and use, to produce high quality concrete castings in a normally upright position.

These and additional objects and features of the invention will become more apparent from the description given below in which the terms employed are used for purposes of description and not of limitation. Reference is made tothe drawings annexed hereto and made an integral part hereof, and in which FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the form embodying the invention for casting unitary concrete step and platform structures.

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevational view of the form illusstrated in FIGURE 1, the side walls of the form being shown pivoted from their cast holding position in broken lines.

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the finished concrete casting by pouring in the form disclosed herein.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to that in FIGURE 1, showing the step cover plates in position.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 77 of FIGURE 6.

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FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken at one side of the step form of FIGURE 1 between inner and outer wall forms showing a modification of the inventive structure for the production of a step unit having a lesser number of steps than can be made with the complete form.

FIGURES 9 and 10 are fragmentary horizontal and vertical sectional views taken on the lines 99 and 10-10 respectively of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the right rear upper corner of the form where the rear wall plate is conjoined to the outer side wall plate and the rear platform channel.

As shown in the several views of the drawings, the form 10 for casting a concrete step and platform structure 12 comprises a base frame 14, pivotal interior side walls 16, 16, toggle mechanism 18 for pivoting the walls 16, 16 inwardly toward each other and back into cast forming position, pivoting exterior side walls 20, 20, pivoting rear plates 22, 22, an interior frame-afiixed riser, tread and platform base 24, separable riser plates 26, a pivoting first riser plate 23, and a number of removably attach able step top or capping plates 29.

The base frame 14 comprises conjoined front, rear and side channels 30 having horizontally disposed legs 31, the upper of which 31a provides the base plate for the casting 12. The frame 14 is supported on legs 32 at the corners. Pivotally secured to the base frame channels 30 are the first riser plates 28 by hinge units 34, the pivoting exterior side walls 16, 16 by hinge mechanism 18 is supported on A-frame members 42, 44 mounted on transverse members 46, 48 respectively, secured to the lateral frame channel 30. The interior riser, tread platform base 24 is fixedly secured to the front frame channel 30 by welding or other suitable means and rearwardly of such securement the interior base 24 lies freely upon the upper edges of the two interior pivoting side walls 16, 16 for the balance of its support. To hold the base 24 firmly in contact with the side walls 16, 16, springs 49 are attached at one of their ends to one of the risers 49a on the base 24 and at their other ends to an interior wall channel 50, or may be attached to some ohter suitable member whereby tension on the base is applied so as to draw it toward and firmly into contact with the forward inwardly flanged edges of the inner walls 16, 16. i

The interior and exterior walls are reinforced for stiffness by vertical channels 50 and 52 respectively welded to the wall plates. The outer pivoting walls 20, 20 are formed at their upper edges with convexly curved lips 54 to provide the exteriorly projecting lateral edges 56 which are cast into the concrete structure 12 at the steps 58 and platform 60. The lips 54 are provided with laterally extending pins 62 whose function will be described below. The interior pivoting walls 16, 16 are each provided with longitudinally extending angle members 64 to which is secured the toggle mechanism 18, and with the retractable pin structures 66 which comprise a bushing 68 secured to the side wall 16, a retractable pin 70, a wedge pin 72 adapted to engage the pin through openings in pin 70 land bushing 68. The purpose and function of the pin structures 66 will be described below.

The interior walls 116, 16 are linked together by toggle mechanism 18 so that the two walls pivot toward and away from each other on hinge units 38 substantially simultaneously. The toggle mechanism includes link members pivotally connected to toggle bars 132 at one end to bracket members 84 secured to brace members 64 mounted on the interior wall channels 50. The link members 80 terminate on their wall connected ends in a turnbuckle 88 which permits adjustable positioning of the walls 16, 16 in respect to both draft and the toggle bar 82. The toggle bars 82 are fixedly mounted on a shaft 90 rotatably positioned in bearings 92 secured at the tops of the A-frame members 42, 44. A stop member 94 aflixed to the shaft 90 engages the A-frame 42 to limit movement of the toggle bars in the direction in which the interior walls 16, 16 are positioned for casting the side walls 96 of the casting structure 12. A handle 98 on the outboard end of the shaft 90 provides means for operating the toggle mechanism 18. In FIGURE 3, the toggle 82 and link members 80 are shown in past-center position in full lines, the walls 16, 16 being disposed in casting position. Upon rotation of handle 98 in a counterclockwise direction, the link members 80 are moved past center and the walls 16, 16 are pivoted inwardly toward each other. Upon rotation of shaft 90 in a clockwise direction (FIG- URE 3), the walls 16, 16 are positioned for casting.

The pivoting rear plates 22, 22 are in a channel form having a web portion 100 and parallel legs 102, 102 which, in their casting position, overlie the exterior walls 20, 20 and the interior walls 16, 16 at their rearward edges. The upper ends of the channels 22, 22 terminate in anchor straps 104 having extensions, beyond the legs 102, provided with openings to receive latch pins 124 and 126 that anchor the rear plates 22, 22 in vertical casting position.

The base 24 which forms the inner riser, tread and platform surfaces is secured to the frame channel 30 at the front of the structure in any suitable manner and preferably by welding. At a line above the frame 14, springs 49 are attached to a riser 49a and to interior wall channels 50. The base treads 49b rest upon in-turned wall tread flanges 108 and the base risers 49a abut the wall riser flanges 110. The base platform 112 rests on the wall platform flanges 114. The platform 112 terminates at its rearward edge in a channel 116 having a rearwardly projecting horizontal portion 118 and a terminal depending flange 120. A each end of the horizontal portion 118 is aflixed a strap 122 provided with openings for the insertion of lock-up pins 124 and 126 which engage the straps 128 afflxed to the exterior walls 20, 20 at their topmost rearward edges and the rear wall cover plates 104, for lock up of these members in casting position.

The separable front riser plates 26, which are removably attached to the exterior walls 20, 20 by latch clamps 130, comprise a body 132, a forwardly projecting lip 134 at the top edge of the body and a number of outwardly extending pins 136 mounted on the body adjacent the lower horizontal edge of the body and pins 138 secured in the lip 134. Latch clamps 130, as seen most clearly in FIGURE 1, each include a support yoke 146 secured to the outer walls 20, 20, a handle 148 pivoted on the yoke, and a toggle hook 150 pivoted on the handle. The removable riser plates 26 are each provided with pin catches 152 secured to the body 132 at the outer ends thereof for engagement by the toggle hooks 150 which draw the riser plate 26 firmly into contact with the outer wall riser and lip edges. The lowermost first riser plate 28, hinged by units 34 to the front frame member 30, is provided on its body 160 adjacent its ends with projecting straps 162 having openings therein to receive lock-up pins 164 which secure the front plate 28 to the two outer walls 20, 20 through openings in the wall attached straps 166.

The removably attachable top or capping plates 29 comprises a body 170, a front depending flange 172 having openings therethrough to receive the pins 138 and a number of angle lugs 174 having openings therethrough to receive the pins 136. The plates 29 extend entirely across the top edges of the riser plates 26 and 28 and the top edges of the outer walls 20, 20 at the treads 58 of the casting. The top plates 29 are further provided at their ends with depending flanges 176 having slots 178 to admit and engage the pins 62 secured to the outer side walls 20, 20 at lips 54, and having a latching hook 182 to engage the rearmost pin 62 at each step so as to lock the top plate 29 securely to the outer side walls 20, 20 and upon the front riser plates.

A modification of the structure 10 provides for the casting of a step and platform unit having a lesser number of steps than those which can be provided by the complete structure 10. As shown in FIGURES 8, 9 and 10, an insertable and removable wall casting base member 200 having a web 202 extending from interior wall 16 to exterior wall 20 on each side of the form and having depending le s 204, 204 providing rigidity and stiffness to the web is suspended upon the retractable pins 70 secured to the interior walls 16, 16. The legs 204 are notched at 205 to straddle the pins 70 so that the removable casting base member 200 rests on such pins in proper position. The members 200 are substantially as long as the distance from the rear plate webs to the front face of the first removable riser plate 26, and are used on both sides of the structure 10 between the interior and exterior wall plates. The pin structures 66 are so positioned that the top surface of the web 202 lies in the plane of, the base tread 108 for a given number of steps less than the full number of the structure 10. A special front riser plate 26a (FIGURE 8), substantially identical in structure with the riser plates 26, is provided inwardly at its lower edge with an in-turned flange 206 which forms the base of the casting at the first riser of a unit having less than the full number of complete form steps.

The hinge units 34, 36 and 38 are so arranged that their pivoting axes lie in the plane of the wallsfront riser, exterior and interior-which rotate on such hinge units so that the Walls fall away directly from the casting and do not rise into the casting upon pivoting.

All of the parts and members utilized in the casting form 10 of this invention are made of metal and preferably of steel. In operation, the step and platform casting form 10 is prepared for the production of a casting 12 by pivoting the toggle mechanism 18 so that the interior walls 16, 16 are rotated away from each other until the stop 94 engages the A-frame 42, by pivoting the first front riser plate 28 on its hinge units until the pins 164 lock the straps 162 and 166 together at each end of the riser, by closing all of the clamp hooks on pin catches 152 of the removable front riser plates 26, by pivoting the rear wall channels 22, 22 until the channel legs 102, 102 overlie the rear edges of the interior and exterior plates 16 and 20 at each side of the form and the rear web 100 abuts such edges, and by locking the rear wall members to the exterior walls and to the rear platform flange 116 at straps 122, 128 and 104 by the pins 124 and 126. At this stage the form is ready for pouring concrete to produce the casting 12.

The initial pour is made at the first tread and riser and around the periphery of the form between the interior and exterior walls so as to provide a base for the casting. This pour is normally made to the top edge of the first riser 28 and upon the first base tread 4% until the concrete level reaches the top edge of the riser lip 134 and the lateral exterior wall lips 54, where it is usually hand troweled to smoothness. Then a capping plate 29 is set upon the riser and outer wall lips and the plate flange 172 forced over the pins 138 and the lugs 174 forced upon the pins 136 of the next riser plate 26; the side flanges 176 are simultaneously slid onto the laterally extending pins 62 of the outer wall lips 54 and the latch hooks 182 dropped over and into engagement with the second pin 62 on the lip.

Then the second step 58 and the adjacent portions of the side walls 96 are poured, and the application of the second top plate 29 to the exterior walls and the second riser plate is made in the same manner as above described for the first step. This process continues until the platform 60 is poured and troweled smooth. The casting is then complete and allow to set for a period of time determined by the composition and care of the mix used.

The purpose and function of the top plates 29 are to prevent the plastic concrete of the lower poured steps 58 from being forced out of the form upon pouring the superior steps. The weight and plasticity of the concrete, on pouring, is often such that top plates 29 should be used to prevent the lower pours from mushrooming up out of the form because of the load applied above.

When the casting 12 has set, the lock up pins 164, 124 and 126 are removed, the top plates 29 are removed, the latches 130 released, and the front riser plates 26 removed. Then the front riser plate 28 is pivoted forwardly away from the casting, the rear plates 22, 22 are pivoted rearwardly away, the exterior wall plates 20, 20 are pivoted laterally outwardly away, and the toggle mechanism 18 is rotated to draw the interior wall plates 16, 16 inwardly away from the casting, which is now ready for removal from the form 10.

At all times while the form is used in its full state to cast a complete step and platform unit 12, the internal pins 70 are retracted from insertion into the wall area between the wall plates 16 and 20 on each side of the form 10.

To use the form 10 for a step and platform unit having a lesser number of steps than can be produced with the full form, the retractable pins 70 are inserted into each wall area at the sides of the form for the level at which the base of the modified casting is to occur. This level forms a plane for all of the inserted pins 70 on both sides of the form. The modified removable front riser plate 26a is inserted at the same level so that its inturned flange 206 is substantially adjacent the plane of the inserted pins 70. The riser plate 26a is locked to the exterior walls 20, 20 by latches 130 and the interior wall plates 16, 16 moved into position by the toggle mechanism 18. Before raising the rear wall members 22, 22, the removable base members 200 are inserted between the walls at each side of the form so that the webs 202 come to rest upon the pins 70 in the slots 205. In this position the rear edges of the webs 202 are substantially in the plane of the rear edges of the walls 16 and 20. Then the rear wall members are pivoted upwardly and locked in place by pins 124 and 126 along with the rear channel 116 and the exterior walls 20. Depending upon where the base members 200 are used, the foroward ends of such members will project forwardly of the front wall of the riser 26a or closely abut such wall, the in-turned flange 206 lying closely upon the base member web 202. The remaining front riser plates 26 are attached by latches 130 and the casting form is ready to receive the concrete.

Pouring of the smaller casting into the form modified as above described proceeds in the same manner as for the full casting. After setting is complete or relatively complete, the form is broken substantially as in the order and manner described for the full casting, the base members 200 being removed or left in place depending upon the further production requirements of the form.

Of course, it will be readily recognized and understood by persons skilled in the art that steps 58 can be fabricated with the casting form 10 to any particular height without completion of the platform 60, whereby any other type of platform can be imposed upon such step casting as desired or required.

Although the use of the top capping plates 29 is very desirable, the casting 12 can be made without such plates if care and additional time is given in pouring the casting. However, should production requirements be such that insufficient time is allowable, then capping plates 29 should definitely be applied after finishing the treads 58.

Having described the invention in its simplest terms, it is to be understood that the features of construction can be changed and varied in greater or lesser degree without departing from the essence of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a form for the production of a concrete step casting in an upright attitude,

a frame providing a base plate for said casting,

a casting base having tread and riser surfaces above said frame secured at its front edge to said frame adjacent said base plate,

outer and inner vertical wall plates pivotally conjoined to said frame adjacent and on either side of said base plate to provide a casting cavity with said base and said frame,

said outer and inner wall plates being hingedly conjoined to said frame for pivoting movement on lines extending longitudinally under and in the plane of the side walls of said casting and being pivotable away from said casting when formed free of interference with or lifting of said casting from said frame and base,

pin structures secured to said inner wall plates having retractable pins projecting into said cavity between said outer and inner wall plates,

said pin structures being disposed substantially in planes adjacent the plane of each tread surface of said face,

secondary base plates removably insertable in said cavity between said inner and outer wall plates supported on said pins and having their casting supporting surfaces lying in a plane,

a first front riser plate having a longitudinally extending inturned flange at its lower edge in contact with a base riser surface substantially in the plane of said casting supporting surfaces of said secondary base plates and one or more front riser plates,

all of said front riser plates being detachably engageable with said outer wall plates, whereby a step casting of less than the full number of steps provided by said form can be cast upon said secondary base plates and said first front riser plate.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, and including releasable latch type clamp means mounted on the lateral outer wall plates adjacent all said front riser plates for detachably engaging said latter plates at latch engaging means thereon.

3. The structure defined in claim 1, and including one or more top capping plates detachably engageable with all said front riser plates and the lateral outer wall plates to cover and overlie the treads of said casting when poured in said cavity.

4. In a form for the production of a concrete step casting in an upright attitude,

a frame providing a base plate for said casting,

said frame including means for supporting said base plate in spaced relation to a floor,

a casting base above said frame secured at its front edge to said frame adjacent said base plate,

a first front riser plate, a pair of lateral outer side wall plates, a pair of lateral inner side wall plates and a pair of rear wall plates each hingedly conjoined to said frame adjacent said base plate,

one or more front riser plates detachably engageable with said outer side wall plates above said first front riser plate, said frame, base, and plates providing a casting cavity,

said first front riser plate being hingedly conjoined to said frame for pivoting on a line extending longitudinally under and in the plane of the first front riser of said casting, said outer and inner wall plates being hingedly conjoined to said frame for pivoting on lines extending longitudinally under and in the plane of the side walls of said casting,

said first front riser plate, said outer and inner wall plates and said rear wall plates being pivotable away from said casting when formed free of interference with or lifting of said casting from said frame and base,

said pivoting rear wall plates each comprising a channel member having legs adapted to overlie the rear vertical edges of said lateral inner and outer wall plates, toggle mechanism mounted on said frame under said base plate and having linkage members pivotally attached to said inner wall plates for movement of said latter plates, while in supporting contact with and under said base plate at the outer lateral edges thereof, into a cast-forming position substantially parallel with and spaced from said outer walls and for movement out of such position and inwardly toward each other, whereby said casting is freed for removal from said form upon detachment of said front riser plates and pivoting of said hingedly conjoined plates outwardly away from said casting.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,423,708 7/22 Bruun 25-121 Thrasher et a1 25-118 Comer et a1. 25121 Kogl 25-118 Kogl 25118 Francis et al 25--130 Benart et a1 25128 Henderson 25121 Di Tullio et a1. 25121 Davis 25118 La Monica 25130 J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Extzminer.

MICHAEL V. BRINDISI, WILLIAM J. STEPHENSON,

Examiners. 

1. IN A FORM FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A CONCRETE STEP CASTING IN AN UPRIGHT ATTITUDE, A FRAME PROVIDING A BASE PLATE FOR CASTING, A CASTING BASE HAVING THREAD AND RISER SURFACES ABOVE SAID FRAME SECURED AT ITS FRONT EDGE TO SAID FRAME ADJACENT SAID BASE PLATE, OUTER AND INNER VERTICAL WALL PLATES PIVOTALLY CONJOINED TO SAID FRAME ADJACENT AND ON EITHER SIDE OF SAID BASE PLATE TO PROVIDE A CASTING CAVITY WITH SAID BASE AND SAID FRAME, SAID OUTER AND INNER WALL PLATES BEING HINGEDLY CONJOINED TO SAID FRAME FOR PIVOTING MOVEMENT ON LINES EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY UNDER AND IN THE PLANE OF THE SIDE WALLS OF SAID CASTING AND BEING PIVOTABLE AWAY FROM SAID CASTING WHEN FORMED FREE OF INTERFERENCE WITH OR LIFTING OF SAID CASTING FROM SAID FRAME AND BASE, PIN STRUCTURES SECURED TO SAID INNER WALL PLATES HAVING RETRACTABLE PINS PROJECTING INTO SAID CAVITY BETWEEN SAID OUTER AND INNER WALL PLATES, SAID PIN PIN STRUCTURES BEING DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY IN PLANES ADJACENT THE PLANE OF EACH TREAD SURFACE OF SAID FACE, SECONDARY BASE PLATES REMOVABLY INSERTABLE IN SAID CAVITY BETWEEN SAID INNER AND OUTER WALL PLATES SUPPORTED ON SAID PINS AND HAVING THEIR CASTING SUPPORTING SURFACES LYING IN A PLANE, A FIRST FRONT RISER PLATE HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING INTURNED FLANGE AT ITS LOWER EDGE IN CONTACT WITH A BASE RISER SURFACES SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE PLANE OF SAID CASTING SUPPORTING SURFACES OF SAID SECONDARY BASE PLATES AND ONE OR MORE FRONT RISER PLATES, ALL OF SAID FRONT RISER PLATES BEING DETACHABLY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID OUTER WALL PLATES, WHEREBY A STEP CASTING OF LESS THAN THE FULL NUMBER OF STEPS PROVIDED BY SAID FORM CAN BE CAST UPON SAID SECONDARY BASE PLATES AND SAID FIRST FRONT RISE PLATE. 